According to the legend, Thetis gave birth to a son, Achilles, whom she tried unsuccessfully to make immortal. In another version of the myth, the infant's body was anointed with ambrosia and set on fire in order to burn the mortal parts. When she was interrupted by the frightened father of the child, she angrily left her home. In a later version, the child is said to have sunk into the river Styx, holding it by the heel. All points touched by the river became invulnerable. The heel, however, remained dry and Achilles acquired his vulnerable spot, an emblem of his mortality.

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